[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 344 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                           May 1, 2007.
Whereas charter schools deliver high-quality education and challenge our 
        students to reach their potential;
Whereas charter schools provide thousands of families with diverse and 
        innovative educational options for their children;
Whereas charter schools are public schools authorized by a designated public 
        entity that are responding to the needs of our communities, families, 
        and students and promoting the principles of quality, choice, and 
        innovation;
Whereas in exchange for the flexibility and autonomy given to charter schools, 
        they are held accountable by their sponsors for improving student 
        achievement and for their financial and other operations;
Whereas 40 States and the District of Columbia have passed laws authorizing 
        charter schools;
Whereas charter schools improve their students' achievement and stimulate 
        improvement in traditional public schools;
Whereas charter schools must meet the student achievement accountability 
        requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 in 
        the same manner as traditional public schools, and often set higher and 
        additional individual goals to ensure that they are of high quality and 
        truly accountable to the public;
Whereas charter schools give parents new freedom to choose their public school, 
        routinely measure parental satisfaction levels, and must prove their 
        ongoing success to parents, policymakers, and their communities;
Whereas charter schools nationwide serve a higher percentage of low-income and 
        minority students than the traditional public system;
Whereas charter schools have enjoyed broad bipartisan support from the 
        Administration, Congress, State Governors and legislatures, educators, 
        and parents across the United States; and
Whereas the eighth annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held April 29 
        through May 5, 2007, is an event sponsored by charter schools and 
        grassroots charter school organizations across the United States to 
        recognize the significant impacts, achievements, and innovations of 
        charter schools: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) acknowledges and commends charter schools and their students, 
        parents, teachers, and administrators across the United States for their 
        ongoing contributions to education and improving and strengthening our 
        public school system;
            (2) supports the eighth annual National Charter Schools Week; and
            (3) joins the President in calling on the people of the United 
        States to conduct appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to 
        demonstrate support for charter schools during this weeklong celebration 
        in communities throughout the United States.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.